Apparatus for making roofing elements



D. 29,1925. 41,567,048 K J. H. GILLIS APPARATUS FOR MAKING RVOOFINGELEMENTS Filed Sep- 10, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 s Zac/NG- C ATTORNEY 4Sheets-Sheet E J. H. GILLIS Filed Sept. l0, 1923 lili/ODA' NVENTOR MrATTORNEYS MEMBER 'Deaf 29"1925- J. H. GILLIS APPARATUS FOR MAKINGROOFING ELEMENTS Filed sept.y 1p, 1923 4 sheets-sheet 's EL EME/v 7-,fa/7.55

\\35 \\30 car-Hons @my @a n m mi f ATTORNEY Dc.' Z9, [925 @567,048

J. H. GILLIS APPARATUS-Fon MAKING RooFING ELEMENTS Filed Sept.V lO, 19234 Sheets-Sheet 4 SATTORNEYf met-al is deposited. Vand 'Patented Dec..29, i925.

u iran JULIUS H. GILLIS, OF ELIZABETH. NEVI JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, T0 NACONDASALES COMPANY, A CORPORATION BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ROOFING ELEMENTS.

Application filed September 1U, 1923. Serial No. 661,972.

To all 'whom it may concer/ii.'

Be it known that I, JULIUs H. GILLIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elizabeth, in the county ot Union, State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for MakingRooting Elements; and I do hereby declare the followingr to be a full,clear, and exact description oi the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame. This invention relates to a process and apparatus for themanufacture of roong elements, and more particularly elements whichconsist ot' a composition base ot' vari'- ous materials such as cork,wood fibre, or asbestos productsbound `together by a suitable binder, orbase compositions of the socalled asphalt rooting type provided with aprotective metal layer applied to the sur tace thereof. Such elementsmay conveniently be made by depositing the metallic coating on thesurface thereof by electrolytic processes` and this invention isdirected to the provision of an improved process and apparatus by whichsuch clcctro-deposition may be carried on.

The elements which are to be produced may beof varying forms, such assingle or multiple shingles, tihes, strips, and the like, and ordinarilythe metallic protectiveA layer is applied over a portion of one surfacethereof which will normallyv be exposed when the element is laid inplace on the root'. Since the composition 'base is not Aan electricconductor. it is necessary to provide a conducting' coating over whichthel this coating may graphite which is applied to the base and held inplace thereon hy a suitable adhesive. The bases so treated are nextplaced in an elcctrolytic tank and the metal deposited over the desiredarea by the usual steps of electro-deposition. Since these elements areVto be produced in large quantities it is desirable to provide a processand apparatus by means ot which a deposit ol uniform thickness andquality maybe made and apparatus for carrying on this step should belaid out so that it can he conveniently operated and so that theproduction of the elements may be carried on without interruption.

In electrodepositing a metallic coating on consist of powdered a base ofthe materials previous] referred to, which is non-conducting an must begiven a conducting coating, it is, of course, necessary to provide somemeans by which the plating current may be withdrawn from the coating andas such base materials have a somewhat irregular surface it is desirablethat any contact member used for the above purpose should be nessedagainst the element with considera le torce. Such contact devices musi;be adjusted in position against i each element as soon as the latter 1sinserted in the electrolyte and unless special provision is made forhandling these contact members efficiently, this operation consumesconsiderable time. In any electrolytic process of the type now underconsideration, in which a great many articles of the same kind aretreated and given a similar piating, it is desirable that the process becarried on in such a wa f that one workman may supervise the platmg ofmany elements, and it 1s also desirable that electrolytic conditionsshould be the same in each plating operation.

According to the present invention, now to be described, I provide aprocess in which the elements are plated in separate electrolytic cellsand I plate the elements while supporting them in spaced' relation tothe anode. These elements are held on a suitable sup ort and are pressedagainst 'the support y means which include the negative terminal forwithdrawing the plating current. II may use the anodes as a support,providing them with spacing members including contacts, against whichthe elements are pressed by weights; orelse I may use the weight of theanode itself to provide the Contact.l In the latter arrangement- Iprefer to arrange the anodes insuch a way that they maybe swung into andout of operative position with relation to the elements and on eachanode I mount a spacing mem ber which is insulated from the anode andwhich carries a contact which is to bear against the element. Thisspacing member serves the :further urpose of outlining the shape of the'deposit and by masking parts of the anode the spacing memberconcentrates the deposit on those parts of the ele, ment where thecoating is desired. In order that the process maybe eiiicientiy carriedon, I provide a series of electrolytic cells by making use of a longtank in which there are barriers which form compartments. in

each oi' 'these compartments or cells there is placed an anode and anelement support and each of the anodes carries the weight and a spacingmember of the type previously referred to. Movable along the tank is aconveyor which may conveniently be made in the form of a car running ona track. This car is provided with devices which itrc located in such 4aposition as to engage the anodes successively as the car moves along andas the car passes each cell it moves the anode so as to swing thecontact member away from the element. With the anode in this inoperativeposition the operator may remove the plated element and replace it.l

with one unplated. The movement; of the carin continuous, and when anunplated element has been placed in position the anode is released fromthe devices on the car,'and swung back with the contacts against theelement. The plating:r operation then lie-- ins and the car moves to thenext cell. where 't e op erations are repeated.

By a suitable arrangement of the cells the electrolyte is circulatedfrom one end of the tank to the other end in this way electrolyticconditions are uniform throughout the tank. Preferably the tank containsa suficien't number of compartments so that when the car has moved fromone end fto the other of the tank the elements at the start are iinishedand may be removed. rElie car, there` fore, is run back to the front endof the tank, and in this way the process may be carried out withoutinterruption. Preferably one operator takes care of two tanks which lieside by side with the :ar running between them, and the electrolyte iscirculated through the tanks successively. With this process it ispossible to secure uniform deposition of coatings of the saine thicknesson all of'the elements treated, and the process may be carried on withgreat eiiiciency in a continuous manner.

ln the accompanying drawingsthere is il lustrated a convenient apparatusby means of which the process may be carried on, and this apparatus isdesigned for the production of multiple shingles, that is, shinglesconsisting of a rectangular base, one edge or which is provided withcut-outs dening portions ot' thesize of an ordinary shingle, thesecut-outs being so arranged that when the elements are laid in place onthe roof in overlapping courses the appearance is that of the ordinaryshingle roof. In these, drawings,

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are elevational, sectional and plan views ot' 'theanode to loe used, the section of Fig. beingtaken on the line 2-2 of'Fig. 1,

Figs. t, 5 and 6 are respectively elevational, end and top views of aweight which is to be mount-ed on the anode,

assignee Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are elevational, sectional and plan views ofthe anode with the weights in place, the section of Fig. 8 being; on theline -S of Fig. 7, l

Fig. l0 is a rear elevational View of the spacing or contact member,

Fig. l1 is a plan View oi the saine Fig. 12 is a rear elevational viewoi a. inodilied iorni ot' the spacing or contact member,

Fig'. 13 is a section of the saine, on the line it-130i Fig. lf2,

Fig. l-l is a planview oi' the member illus-- trated in Fig. 12,

Fig. 15 is a front elevational view,

Fig. 16 is a detailed section on the line 14s-14 of Fig. 12,

Fig.. 17 is a rear elevational View showing the anode, Weights andspacing member assembled,

Fig. 18 is a cross-section of the same on the line 16-16 of Fig. 17,

Fig. 19 is a plan view oi the assembly.

Fig. 20 is a front elevation ol the assembly,

Fig. 21 is a plan view of an element which is to be given the metalliccoating,

Fig. 22 is a cross-section of an electrolytic cell, showingthe elementsupported therein,

Fig. Q3 is a side view of au eiectrolytic tank with one side plateremoved, showing a pair of anodes and elements in successivocompartments with one anode in operative and the other in imperativeposition,

Fia: 24.- is a plan view o' the plated ele nient,

Fig'. 25 is an end View oi' the same with the plating somewhatexaggerated as to thickness, l

Fig. 2o is a cross-sectional vienY oi a pair of tanks, showing,r theanodes in place therein, and showing; the car which runs betweenthesetanks with a carrier mounted thereon,

Fig. 27 is a side view ot' the several 'parte illustrated in Fig. 26,

Fig. 28 is an end View of the carrier,

Fig. 29 is a detail of the end portion of -the carrier, and

Fig. 30 is a view similar to Fig. L3. show ing a detail of a. modiliedanode assembly. ln these drawings the anode 3() is illus trated asconsisting of a rectangular base member 31, having three tongues 52entend ing 'from the upper edge thereof. The n1i ldie tongue 3B issomewiat longer than the other two, and has a groove 3st formed near theouter end thereof. This anode is preferably formed of cast metal, andconsequent lyhas a.. beveled face so that it may be readily withdrawnfrom the mold. Also the lower edge oil the anode has a beveled sur-.tace for a purpose which. will later be described.

As has been stated, the particular apparatus here shown is designed vforthe produc- 'all llQli tion ot multiple shingles ot the thrceunit type,and the nished clement"illustrated in p Fig. 24 is show-n to have ametallic coating in Fig. Qt, and to liti y signed so as to titbetween abso 36 which lies along the edge carrying the outputs. Vfis theclen'ients are laid in overlapping courses in staggered relation, it isnecessary., in order to insure that all exposed parts ot' the elementwill be protected by the metal, 'that the metallic coating shouldhaveenjtensions such as 2&7 which will lic beneath the cut-out portionsof the elements ot the course above. The deposit, therefore, has theirregularl shape illustrated produce such a deposit uniformly the anodeshould have a corresponding shape. Such an anode is illustrated in Fig.1, and it will be understood that it elements having metallic coatingsof ditl'erent outlines were to be produced the anode would be given therequired outline.

As the anode is used in providing the contact pressure itis preferableto provide the anode with one or more Weights 38, inasmuch as thecarrying on ot the process causes the anode to go into solution andduring such consumption it would eventually become, .so

thin as not to provide the desired pressure.

The outline given, the anode as shown in Fig. l also permits of aconvenient mounting et such weights as are illustrated in Figs. l, 5 and6. Such a Weight is preferably depair of tongues 32 on the anode, andalong its lateral edge has flanges which form a channel 39,' into whicha tongue is to enter. The weight may be provided with a handle 40 on itsupper edge, and also has pairs of tongues 4l along the lower-edge whichserve to lit over the anode so that the weight is securely held inplace. Such a weight may be made of a convenient material as iron orlead, and is treated with a protective coating of someaort. such asrubber varnish, so that the metal of the weight will not go intosolutionlt in the electrolyte. t is also desirable that the additionalweight should be evenly distributed along the anode, and consequentlywith the anode illustrated in Fig. 1 it is desirable to make use ot apair of weights such as are shown in Fig. 7.

The spacing and cont-act. member is illustrated in Figs. l() and ll. andconsists of a plate l2 which maiv be made of wood or of insulatedmetal.' This plate has the same length as the length ot the element tobe pla-ted,A and is provided with a pair ot lugs -tf by means ot whichit may be supported on an anode. these lugs litting around the outsidetongues ot the anode. Along its lower edge the plate provided withcutouts sift which correspond to tlv:I outline ot the deposit. asillustrated in Fig. Q4. Also on its rear face the plate is provided withspacing ridges which hold it in proper relation to the facemf the anode.(Dn its front tace the plate is covered with a sheet' ot copper 46 whichmay bc secured in place in any desired manner, and at the upper ends areterminals 46 which are eleetricab ly connected to this copper facingsheet.

The spacing and contact member 47 illustrated in Figs. l2, ct seq.. isin somewhat modified form and consists of .1 metallic sheet or framework451. both liaccs o'f which are covered with insulating material elfi,49. The contact member has an irregular outlinc formed with cut-outs 50along its lower edge so as to expose thc tongues 32 projecting' upwardlyt'rom the top edge ot the anode. Along the outer edges ot the outercut-outs are flanges 5l which terminate in oft-sets 5:2. these flangesserving to hold the spacing member in place on the anode, as isillustrated in Figs. 17 and 19. These flanges are held in place by meansot metallic screws 53, the heads of which are covered by the insulatingmaterial 49. ln the front face of each spacing member are contact Strips54 and in the member illustrated which is to be used in the productionof the three-unit shingle, in which the metallic coating has threeprojecting tongues 3T. there are three of these Contact strips whichhave a Jform corresponding to the shape of the tongues 37. Thesecontact-strips are mounted to be pressed against the conducting surfaceon the element so as tol withdraw the plating current therefrom. and tbccontacts are electrically connected with the trame 4S, which is providedat either end with terminals 55, with which the necessary electricalconnections may be made. ()n the rear face of the spacing member thereis provided a pair of projecting ridges 56 which serve to space themember from thc weights. as is illustratcd more clearly in Fig. 18.

lt will be seen that when the anode is Miii.prepared for operation it isprovided with a pair ot weights. removably secured on its upper edge,and a spacing member is also rem( 'ably scoured to the anode and carriescontact meml'iers on the surface opposite to that which lies against',the anode. The assembled anode, has considerable weight and when it isused in thc manner presently to be described thc contact members will beforced against thc clcments with a suflicient degree ot' pressure toproduce a good contact.

ln Fig. 2l there is illustrated the three unit shingle clement which isto be producedv in the apparatusshown. The clectrolytic tanks in whichthe deposit-ion on these oleinenls takes place are illustrated in Figs.23 land 213. and these taillis are formed o'l wood, slate, or othermaterial such as is m-diiuirily used Jfor this purpose. lretcral'ily itwood is used it will be provided with a sheathing to protect it from theaction olf' the electrolyte. One convenient arrangement ot' the tanks isthat illustrated in Fig'. 2G, in which llO a pair oit tanks are mountedeioe hy Side on e suitable hase Ezio-h tank consists 0i. bottom. side,and enel Wells, end the tank is of a width corresponding' to the lengthof an element The bottom 58 olf the tank is slightly inclined.,illustrated in Fig. 2S, and ilisposecl along' the length of the tank inspece'fl relation, are 'partitions 59 which Serve to forni a series ofcompartments 5G, Eaeh of these eomi'iartinents :forms an indivichnilcell in whicl'i n Single element is to he plated, anfl preferably thepartitions 5S) will he inolineil tenerli the high end of the tank. whichwill he referred to es the front end for oonvenience. The rem face oieeoh partition serves as a support 'for the, element to he treeiefl andprojecting :from this' face are pegs 6l, spaced apart and of such Sizethat an element may' he mounted in place with these pegs projectingthrough the cutout portions thereof. Formed in the rear fece of eachgirartition is one o1* more grooves 62 which entends vertically from thetop eige of the partition to a point reyon the lower edge of theelement, and -einen an element is in place on its supporte theelectrolyte 63 may flow over the edge. of each partition ilownihroughthe groove 62, ont heine the lower edge of the element, into the next eo)artinenh ln this Way the elec trolyte flows troni the liront to therear end oi" the tank in. o path which insures that the circulation willhe Complete. and that there `will he no spaces in which the electrolytemay become stagnant. ln the hottom ot noch"eoinpertnient ie an anodesnpport 61?; prorideii with a Snteoie groove 65 in which the lieveieflmigo 35 oi the anode to he placed. and along-its :front edge the inemhei has ehannel on into which the lower edge of the element on itssupports may enter. The groove 62 teiininatee below the top of thesupport 64 to produce the circulation above described. ln the front edgeof each partition there is a channel 67 which extendeecross the tace ofeach partition to e length saeient to permit the. anode to enter thereinwhen it is -in the inoperative lposition.

lu eerryingr on the process, will he ph'aefl on its supgunrn l'ratefl inthe compartment al the left in Fig. '23. the anofle havin;Y been movedto the position against the channel (iT-(hiring this replacement. liliththe element' on its Hnppot the anode is; then swung or lilleil inl1Q;roo\e so that the Contact nieniiwihem's againet the 'face oi" theelement'. and the tilt whieh given the compartnients muses the Weight' o(he anode assembly lo provide the desired pressure lo ineure :1 ,Qomlcontiart. Suitable electric 1onneclions have previousu l5 neen/made withthe anmie and with the terminal of the .Spacing or Contact meinher, umlcurrent fiows from ihe iode into the an element as; is 1ilusmemes cellthrough the electrolyte into the con* ducting coating on the elementsensing the deposition of tno metal in the usuel manne?. This platingcurrent travels through, the conducting coating to the Contact Sheet,then to the negative terminal. The eleclrical connections for Carryingon the Cleposiliion have not been illustmtefl but it is possible toconnect a pluralitfiY of anodes ano: Contact members in series. or inseries i332 ellel relation. The eireuis which are neeti will depend onthe supply of electrical energy which is available, ami will hedetermined hy the othe-ix conditions of deposition.

In Fig". Q5 there is illustrated a peil: o? tanks 68, ($8. mountedsiffle by Side in span-ed relation on a hase. and hetween these tanls isa Conveyor which is here illustrated its e car ($9 running: on a track.This car ie of any convenient type and may he plovide. with a propellingmeans illustrated generally at 70 in the form of an electric motor,which is preferably geared so as to give the car a very Slow movement.This cai hes a seat 71 for the operator al' one end, and will, ofcourse, he provided with Suitable controls so that the oiwrator maydirect the movelthe uprig'i if poeitioa as 'the ear inovee.. The

means used for this purpose may falte any Com'enient form. ont as hereillustrated, eonsisst ot n. hook Tff pivotzilly mounted on the Short armof a. hell-crank lever 74 which is pivotalljv mounted, es at T5, in annpright member 76 on the ear framework. The long arm of the iiellneranl:is Weighted as at 7T. As the cai' begins to move Yfrom the front end ofthe tanks the hooks will engage `the iii'st pair of :molles and Swingthem to the upright position an the oei' moves. During' this sion'movement of the ear the operator sitting on the Heat will ii'lthe platedelements from the compartments :unl substitute for them a pair of'unplateii ezements. As Soon an this is done he reieaees the hooks fromhe anocles and the latter swing' lfark to their inclined position. Thehooksv (l1-op flown in the path of the next pair of anofles and an thecar continues, its movements the operations are repeatecl. 'ilh thisarrzmgeinent the movement of the var. though slow. in eontinouns, an aseach voinpartinent is passed the anoiie therein is lifted ioinoperatii'e position, the Ielemente rel'uovml, and the new onesinserted by the operator with a high flegree o2 eieienoy.

lil

, The elements which are to be treated in the electrolytic tank arehandled in a car# rier 78 which is preferably separated into a pair ofcompartments 79, 80, one of which, 79, is to carry a supply of untreatedele ments, the other, 80, to receive the linished products as theyl areremoved from the This carrier consists of a base member 8l and endmember 82, 82-which may be in the form of heavy wire bent to aconvenient shape, and the central partition 83 which forms thecompartments is of a similar construction. Extending between the endmembers is a rod 84 by means of which the carrier may be readily pickedup. The elements which are to be treated will have been provided with acoating of conducting material before they are brought to theelectrolytic tanks, and such a conducting coating may be formed by meansof powdered graphite applied by the use of an adhesive. Inasmuch as anybreaks inthis coating would also produce a break in the plated coating,it is desirable that every precaution be taken to protect the element-sprior to the electro-deposition. The carrier is, therefore, providedwith a series of spacing members 85 in the compartment 79, and thesespacing members may consist of loops 'of wire, the ends of which areinserted in apertures in tlrebase member of the carrier. These loopsare, free to be swung in their mountings andtat the uppenend the wire isolf-set as indicated at 86,`Fig. 29. In loading the untreated elementsindicated at 87, into the carrier, they are placed with their` rearfaces against the spacing members with a spacing member between eachparir of elements and the oiset portions 86 of the spacingmember serveto keep adjacent elements apart so that -the conducting coating will beuninjured when the elements are being transported.

In Fig. 30 I have illustrated a somewhat modified form of anodeassembly. In the preferred form of apparatus the elements are mounted onsupports on the partition and the anodes have mounted on them weightsand spacing members. lVhen the element is being plated the anodes areswung so that the spacing members with the contacts therein pressagainst the face of the ele-ments and when elements are to be removedtrom the electrolyte the anode assemblies' are moved clear of theelements. In Fig. 30 there is illustrated a form of cell in which theauodes are not moved and in this arrangement the partitions 88 dividingthe tank into compartments, may be either inclined or vertical. In eachcompartment there is placed an anode 89 which lies in inclined Apositionagainst the partition. Mounted on this anode is a spacing member 90 o ta construction similar to the spacing member previously described, and

ator will mount a compartment of having contact facing 91 formed in itsupper face and being also provided with element supports 92 similar tothe pegs 61. The-element'93-'is then placed in position on thesevsupportaas shown in Fig. 30`, and a Weight 94 which rests in a groove95in the bottom wall of the tankis swung so as 'to press the elementagainst the contact.A This weight 94: projects above the anode and thepartition and this is the part which is engaged by the hook on the carwhen this type of apparatus is used. The operation of the assembly issimilar to that'previously described with the difference, however, thatthe anode and the spacing member remain stationary, while the pressurewhich serves to secure a good contact between the contact facing and theconducting coating on the element is provided by means of the weight.The operation of the device is similar to that previously described.

The various steps in the process and the operation of the apparatus forcarrying on the process will be clear from the foregoing description,which may be briey summarized as follows:

In starting production the electrolytic tanks are provided withelectrolyte of the desired strength and quality and the opercarrier witha full supply of untreated elements on the car. s the car moves alongslowly the hooks engage anodes in pairs, one in each tank, and swingthem to the inoperative or vertical position illustrated at the left inFig. 23, An element is then placed in each compartment and the anodesswung to lie against the elements. The operator continues this fillingof the compartments throughout the length of the tanks and the operationwill consume such an amount of time that when the tanks are filled thecar may be returned to the starting point and the elements in the firstcompartment are then ready for removal. A new carrier is then mounted onthe car and the latter is again moved down the length of the tank. Atcach compartment the hooks will engage the anodes and move them to theinoperative position. The operator then removes the finished elementsfrom corresponding compartments in each tank, places the finishedelements in one the carrier, and replaces them with untreated elementsfrom the other compartment. This operation is carried on throughout thelength ot' the tanks, and thereafter the production is carried onwithout interruption. The electrolyte is pum ed from the lower end ofthe tank to the rstl compartment, or, when the tanks are used in pairs,the electrolyte may be caused to circulate through the tankssuccessively. The. electrolyte entering the tix-st compartment flowsover the partition and down through the groove beneath the element intonext compartment, then upwardly and over the second partition, in t isway produeing the circulation through all of the compartments andthrough all parts of each compartment. rlhis electrolyte ma beperiodically Withdrawn and retreehe as may be required. The anodes aregradually con sumed during the plating operation, and when too thin forFurther use are remove and the Weights and spacing member mounted onanother new anode, which is then placed in the particular compartment.This operation may be quickly carried on so that the process ispractically uninterrupted. lnasmuch as the electrolytic conditions arethe same throughout all the compartments o both tanks, and the elementsare subjected to deposition for similar periods of time, the metallicdeposit produced is of uniform quality and of uniform thickness,throughout all the elements treated. With the layout described, oneoperator may take care olf' a great number of cells in an efticientmanner.

While the apparatus here illustrated is designed particularly for theproduction et three-unit shingles, it is clear that it may be used forelements of any desired shape or form. For the best results, however, te anodes should be of a shape corresponding to the shape of the metalliccoating to be delposited, and the design of the weights and thespacingmember will depend, of course, on the outline of the anode. Theconducting coatingwhich is provided on the elements is preferablyapplied so as to follow the general outlines of the desired deposit/edmetal and the spacing member serves to assist in producing this outline,inasmuch as it masks the anode, except over those'areas which correspondto the area to be plated.

rl`he form oia contact member illustrated in Fig. l is preferred byreason of the fact thatl it produces a deposit of the metal on therooting element which has a` cleanedge. 'lhis contact member, as hasbeen previously described, has its entire iront 'face covered with asheet of metal which lies against the Tia-ce of the clement when thelatter is in 'place in the cell. lt has been found that by' reason et'the metal vracin-g having a. greater conductivity than the graphite, noplating oci urs on the element over those portions that are masked bythe contact plate. The solution which entersI between the faces of theelement and the plate causes a slight deposition to occur on the contactlacing but since the metal conducts elecl tricit more rapidly than doesthe gra hite any eposition is confined to the meta and 'the graphitecoating keeps clean. (lensen quently it is not necessary to apply thegraphitecoating with great care along the' edges of the area over whichthe deposit is to be made. The form of contact member neat/,osa

illlustrated as a modiication in Fig. 12, et seq, is in generalsatisfactory tor the purposes' and produces an excellent contactthroughout the contact strips, and this form of contact member is usefulwhere it is desired to concentrate the Contact pressure over a smallarea rather than throughout the jtace of the element. The contact memd'her shown in Fig. 10, however, has an added advantage in that it may beused to center the element on its support, thus making it unnecessary toprovide the peg supports i1- lustruted in Fig. 23. This feature is ofgreat advantage in producing elements which do not have the cut-outssuch as occur inv the case of a three-unit shingle. In using thepreferred form of contact member for this purpose it will be given alength exactly that of the element to be plated, and Will be of suchheight that when an element lies against the partition with its upperedge in registry with the upper edge of the contact member, the latterwill expose only that area of the element which is to receive thecoating. In mounting the elements in the cells when no pegs are providedthe operator Will place the element against the vface ot the partitionand move the anode with its Contact member so as to bear against theelement. .lust before the contact mem ber strikes the element, however,the latter will be placed with its upper edge in the desired positionand the Weight 'of the anode assembly will then hold the elementin thedesired position during the deposition.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising an electrolytic tankhaving a plurality of anodes therein, a support for the element to beplated adiacent each anode, Contact means for bearing against an articleon the support to withdraw the plating current therefrom, and meansmovable along the tank and adaptedto release the Contact meanssuccessively 'from the elements.

2. Apparatus ofthe class described oomprising an electrolytic yankhaving. a plurality of anodes therein, a support for the element' to beplated adjacent each anode, a contact adapted to bear against theelement `on the support to withdraw the plating cui rent therefrom,means for pressing the' article and Contact together, and means movablealong the tank and adapted successively to render the means firstmentioned inoperative. y

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising an electrolytic tankdivided into a.

series of compartments by partitions. an anode in each compartment, vasupport for the element to be plated located in cach compartment,adjacent the anode, contact means adaptedto bear against the element toWithdraw the plating current therefrom, means in each compartmentadapted to press loc the 'element and contact together, and a conl veyormovable along the tank and adapted tol engage said means successively asitmovcs to render the latter inoperative.

4. Apparatus of the class described, comprising an electrolytic tankhaving a plurality of anodes therein, and means movable along the tankand adapted to move the anodes successively to a dierent position.

5. Apparatus of the class described com-i prising an electrol 7tic tankhaving a plu rality of anodes therein, normally lying in inclinedposition, and means movable along` the tank and adapted-to move theanodes successively to a different position.`

6. Apparatus of the class described com` prising an electrolytic tankhaving a series of anodes therein, a conveyor movable alongr the, tankand provided with means for successively engaging the anodes and movingthem to a different position as the conveyor moves and a carrier on theconveyor for holding a su ply of iinplated articles and for receiving te plated articles as they are finished.

7. Apparatus prising an electrolytic tank divided into a series ofcompartments by partitions, an

anode in each compartment, and means mov-V able along the tank andadapted to move the anodes successively to a dierent position `Withinthe compartments.

8. Apparatus of the class described com` prising an electrolytic tankdivided into a series of compartments by means of spaced partitions, asupport for an elementv to be plated in each compartment, an anode ineach compartment normally lying in inclined position, and means movablealong the tank and adapted'to engage the anodes successively and movethem away from the element supports.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising an electrolytic tankhaving a plurality of compartments therein, formed by spaced partitions.an anode in each compartment, normally lying in inclined posltion. and acar movable along the tank and provided with means for swinging theanodes successively about a horizontal axis as the car moves.

l0. Apparatus of the class described comprising an electrolytic tankprovided with a series of anodes in spaced relation through out itslength. a car movable along the tank and provided with a portionextending thereover, and means mounted on the 'eX- tending portion torengaging the anodes successively, a different position as the car moves.

11. Apparatus ot' the' class described comprising an electrolytic tankprovided with a series oi anodcs in spaced relation. a car movable alongthe tank, and provided with a trame extending thereover. means mountedon the frame for engaging the anodes of the class described com=` 'carmovable along the tank,

Vprising an electrolytic tank,

and for movingsuch :modes to- Apparatus of the class described comiprising a pair of electrolytic tanks rovided with a series of anodes,means mova le along the tanks for successively engaging the anodes inpairs, one in each tank, and for moving theseanodes to a differentposition.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising an electrolytic tankseparated into a series of compartments by partitions, an elementsupport in each compartment, an anode in each compartment, adapted tohold the element to be plated on its support, a and means on the car forengaging the anodes successively and for moving them clear of theelement as the car moves.

15. Apparatus of the class prising an electrolytic a series'oflcompartments by artitions, a support for the element to' he p ated ineach compartment, an anode in each compart ment, insulated contact meansfor bearing against the element when the operative position, a carmovable along the tank and means on the car for successively' moving theanodes away from the elements.

16. Apparatus ot' the class described coma series of supports for theelements to he plated mounted within the tanks, an anode associatedwitheach support, and normally lying in inclined position, each anode beim,rprovided with means for bearing against the clement, and a car movablealong the tank and provided with means for successively enga ing theanodes and swingingl them clear o i' the cle ments as the car moves.

17. In apparatus of the class described, an elcctrolytic tank having aseries of supports for an element disposed therein, and an anodeassociated with `each support and adapted to be moved into and ont ofoperative position.

18. In apparatus of the class described, an electrolytic tank having aseries of compartments formed therein by inclined parti tions, a supportfor the element to be plated in each compartment, compartment normallylying,r in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the support,each anode being freely movable out oi' such plane.

l described comtank separated into anode is inV and an anode in each miti9. in apparatus oit tbe class described, an eleetrolytic tank divided.inte a series of inclined compartments by spaced partitions, a supportfor tbe element to be plated mounted on eaeli partition, and an anode ineach compartment normally lying with its axial plane parallel to theplane of the support, this anode being tiltable to a different position.

20. ln apparatus of the class described, an eleetrolytie tank dividedinto a series ol compartments by means of spaced partitions, a supportfor the element to be plated. on cach partition, an anode .in eachcompartment, Contact means on each anode and means on carb, anode forpressing tbe element and contact means together when the anode is inoperative position.,

2l. In apparat-us ot the class described, an eleetrolytic tank providedWitlil a plurality ot' supports 'for the elements to be plated, an anodeassociated with eacli support and movable into and out of operativeposition, and insulated Contact means on each anode to Withdraw theplating' current from the element.

22. In apparatus of the class described, an eleetrolytic tank dividedinto a series of compartments by means of spaced partitions, a supportfor the ele-ment to be plated in each compartment, 'and an anode ineaeli compartment adapted to be moved. into and out o operativeposition.

23. In apparatus ot' the class described, au eleetrolytic tank dividedinto a series of: compartments by means of spaced, inclined partitions,a support for the element on eaei'i partition, and an anode Within eachcompartment movable into and out of operative position, andv providedwith contact meansy adapted to bear against the velement on itsA supportwhen the anode is in operative position. f

24. In apparatus of tbe' class described, an electrolytic tank having'an inclined bottom, a series of partitions disposed fin the tank, ininclined relation, and provided with sup-y ports for tbe article to beplated, anda groove formed in that face oteacli partition upon which thesupport is mounted.

In apparatus of the class described, an electroiyee tank having aninclined bottom, and provided with a series of spaced partitions, Aeacbpartition having a groove on tbe face toward the lower end of the tank.

26. ln apparatus of the class described, an elcctrolytic tapk bavinpr aninclined bottom and provided ',Witn a series of spaced partitions and agroove in the face ot caen partition toward the lower end of the tanlc,eit-` tending substantially from. the top 'to the bottom ot saidpartition.

52T. In apparatus of the class described, tbc combination of an anode,weight mounted ntomas on tbe anode, and a spacing member mount-u ed onthe anode.

2S. tn apparatus of tbe class described, an

"anode, a Weight removably mounted near 29. in apparatus oi the classdescribed, an

lelectrolytie tank l'iaving a pluraiity ot com pertinents therein, a.support for an eiement to-be plated in each compartment, an anode ineach compartment movable toward and away from the support and a spacing'member mounted on the anode adapted to bear against the element to beplated when tbe anode is in operative position. 1

30. in apparatus of the class described', electrolytie tank, a.plurality ot supports for the elements to be plated therein, an anodeassociated with each support and movabie into and out ot' operative.position, a spacing member mounted on eaeli anode, and 'a eontactlocated on tbe tace of the spacing member and bearing against the :taceot the element when the anode is in operative posi tion,

S1.. in apparatus of tbe class described, a spacing member 'for use witha movable anode and comprising a plate a contact mounted on the tacethereof, and means for mounting the spacing member on the anode.

32. in apparatus of the class described, a spacing member tor use with amovable anode and comprising a Contact mounted on an insulated plate andmeans on tbe plate for mounting the member on tbe anode.

33. fin apparatus otf tbe class described, a spacing member tor use witha movable anode, and comprising a contact mounted on an insulatedplate,` a terminal connected electrically with tbe'cntact and langes ontbe plate adapted to bold the member on the anode.

in apparatus of tbe class described, a spacing member for use with an.anode naivableinto and out of operative position, hat# ing its edgeconforming to the shape ot' tlm deposit to be made, and baring a.Contact ou one tac-e thereof.

35. In apparatus oi the class ds tiro combination et an anode, a enmovably mounted thereon, a spacing niember removably mountedon the anodeand extending beyond one tbereo'lf, and means on the anode by which saidanode may be moved intoand out ot operative position. y f,

36. )in apparatus of tliehclass described, a`

spacing member for use with an anode mov able into and out of operativeposition baving means for removably mounting" tbe same on said anodealong one face thereof, and having cot-outs formed therein to exposeportions ot die anode.

lili

titi

'titi liti liti

mec/,eas

t5?. In apparatus of the class described, an electrolytio cell havinginclined side walls, a groove in the bottom of the cell and an anodemounted in the groove and movable toward and away from one of said sidewalls.

38. ln apparatus of the class described, the combination with anelectrolytic tank having a plurality of anodes therein movable into andout of operative position, of a car movable along the tank and having aframe entendingthereover and a hook mounted on the frame and adapted toengage the anodes successively as the car moves.

39. In Aapparatus ofthe class described, the combination with anelectrolytic tank provided with a series of anodes movabley into and ontof operative position, and a car movable along the tank and having meansadapted to engage the anodes successively to move them as the' carmoves, of a carrier adapted to be mounted on the car and divided intotwo compartments and havinga plurality of spacing members in one of saidcompartments.

a0. In apparatus of the class descmbed, the combination with anelectrolytic tank rovided with a series of anodes movable into and outof operative position, and a car movable along the tank and having meansadapted to engage the anodes successively to move them as the car moves,of a carrier est,

titi

adapted to be mounted on the car and comprising a base and end `membersand a plurality of spacinff membersgpivotally mounted in the base anextending upwardly therefrom. l

il. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with anelectrolytic tank provided with a series of anodes movable into and outof operative posiition, and a car movable along the tank and havingmeans adapted to engage theanodes successively to move them as the carmoves of a carrier mounted on the car and comprising a base, end membersmounted thereon, and a plurality of U-shaped spacing members pivotallysecured in the base and provided with oli-set portions alongtheir'u'pper edges. 42. In 'apparatus of the class described, thecombination with an electrolytic 'tank rovided with a series of anodcsmovable into and ont of operative position, and a car movable alongr thetank and having means adapted to engage the anodes successively to movethem as the car moves, of a carrier comprising a base, end membersmounted thereon, a central partition secured to thc base and dividir-fthe carrier into two compertinents, and a. plu slity of spacing mernersattached to the base in one of said compartments. i 43. A process forthe manufacture of roofing elements which comprises mounting aninsulated contact member on an anode in an electrolytic cell, supportingan element having a conducting coating in said cell, moving the anode tocause it to press the contact member against said conducting coating andcausing current to flow from said anode into said cell while withdrawingcurrent from'said contact member.

44. A process of manufacturing roofing elements of the class describedwhich comprises electrolytically depositingV metal over a conductingmaterial disposed over the face of an element supported in anelectrolytic cell while withdrawing current from saidconducting materialby means of a contact member held against said material by the weight ofthe anode. Y

45. A process of manufacturing roofing elements of the class described,which comprises supporting an element in spaced relation to an anode inan electrolytic cell, pressing a contact against the element in suchposition, causing a current to flow into said cell from the anode andout of said cell through the contact member to plate the element andreleasing the pressure when the deposition has been carried on to thedesired extent.

46. In apparatus of the class described, an electrolytic 'cell having ananode supported on the bottom wall thereof and movable toward and awayfrom one of the side- Walls of the cell.

47. In apparatus of the class described, a spacing member for use withan anode movable into and out of operative position, and comprising aconducting framework, an insulating coating covering the framework, a`Contact electrically connected with the framework, and projecting beyondthe coating and a terminal projecting beyond the coating andelectrically connected with the framework.

48. In apparatus of the class described, a spacing member for use withan anode movable into and out of operative position, and comprising aconducting framework, an in` sulating coating therefor, insulated meansfor mounting the member on an anode, a contact extending beyond thesurface of the coating and electrically connected with the framework,and a terminal electrically connected with the framework.

49. In apparatus of the class described', a spacing member for use withan anode movable into and out of operative position and comprising aconducting framework, an insulating coating therefor, a Contactextending beyond the face of said coating, and conforming tothe shape ofthe deposit to be made, said contact being electrically connected withsaid framework, and insulated 1 means for removably mounting said memberon an anode.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

JULIUs n. GILLIS.

